Sportsmen's Monthly January 2014 | Page 5

2013: 2 A YEAR IN REVIEW 013 was a critical year for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF). While the organizations celebrated their 35th anniversary last year, our staff was working coast to coast on issues in state legislatures, the halls of Congress, in the courts and at the ballot box. At the state level, we crossed a tremendous milestone in 2013 as the one millionth Apprentice Hunter took to the fields as a result of the Families Afield program. Families Afield, a program of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation, seeks to reduce and remove arbitrary barriers to getting the next generation of hunters into our sport. Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands (USFS). The bill would ensure access by establishing in law that BLM and USFS properties are open to these pursuits unless specific steps are taken to close those lands for necessary, scientific reasons. If passed, “Open Until Closed” would block many of the potential lawsuits that are aimed at closing public land to American sportsmen and women. 2013 was also a busy year in the litigation arena as the fight over wolves continued to be at the forefront of USSAF’s legal work. The Foundation and our partners have been fighting a lawsuit in Wisconsin that sought to eliminate the state’s wolf hunting season using dogs. Despite the judge ruling in our favor in January, the plaintiffs have appealed the ruling and the Foundation is working overtime to defend the The hallmark of the program—the Apprentice appeal. Hunting license—allows new hunters to try hunting under the watchful eye of an experienced mentor At that same time, the Humane Society of the United prior to completing hunter education. Along with States and others filed a lawsuit in February against the National Rifle Association and the Congressional the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to overturn the Sportsmen’s Foundation, Families Afield bills have delisting of the Western Great Lakes region wolves been passed in 35 states. from the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Despite greatly exceeding population recovery goals, In Congress, our federal affairs team worked hard the lawsuit would unnecessarily return wolves in the to promote legislation that would ensure access region to federal protection and prohibit state wildlife to public lands for generations to come. Known as agencies from managing them. USSAF and our “Open Until Closed,” this language would establish partners have intervened in the case and are working that hunting, fishing and recreational shooting are hard to ensure that the wolves in the Western Great (Continued on page 6) legitimate and important activities on Bureau of Land Lakes remain delisted. LEVEL, WE CROSSED A TREMENDOUS Sportsmen’s Monthly January 2014 5